Ohio horse owner convicted in animal cruelty case

PORT CLINTON, Ohio (AP) - A jury has convicted an Ohio woman of 42 animal cruelty counts filed after authorities said dozens of emaciated Arabian horses were taken from her farm.

The Ottawa County Municipal Court jury deliberated for about three hours before convicting 55-year-old Robin Vess on Friday.

She faces up to 18 months in jail at her June 4 sentencing. The horses were taken by the Humane Society of Ottawa County in January from the farm near Oak Harbor, about 25 miles southeast of Toledo.

The Arabian Rescue Mission of New Jersey has placed the surviving horses in foster care in Ohio.

Vess said after the verdict: "Never would I do anything to hurt one of my animals." She says someone she hired had been feeding the horses because she suffered severe depression following deaths in her family.